Feeding and stacking method and machine



Dec. 4, 1951 1 MATTHEWS 2,576,956

FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR LOUIS L. MATTHE'W$ A TTOHNE Y6 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. L. MATTHEWS FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Dec. 4, 1951 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 BY an! ATTORNEYS 1951 L. L. MATTHEWS 2,576,956

FEEDINGAND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 CID A TTORNE. a

D 1951 1.. 1.. MATTHEWS 2,576,956

FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR LMATTHEWS y m M: 731; A TTORNEYS 1951 L. L. MATTHEWS FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 IN VEN TOR Lows L0A4ATTHEW45 A T TORNE vs Dec. 4, 1951 1.. MATTHEWS FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet @y/ ZNVEN TOR Lows MATTHE W5 y fi s/Qua! 0 m! A T T OJ-YNE v15" Dec. 4, 1951 L. MATTHEWS FEEDING AND smcxmc METHOD AND MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 I N VENTOR L ou/s .L. MA TTHE'WS y A T TORNE Y6 L. L. MATTH EWS FEEDING AND STACKING METHOD AND MACHINE Dec. 4, 195] 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 ILNVENTOR Lows L.MAT THEM s ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED" STATES ENT O FzFl 2,576,956 FEEDING STACKING METHOFAND MACHINE LouisfL; .Matthews,-..Westerly,- R.-I., ;-assignor; to I Maxson Automatic-Machinery Company Westerly, R. 1., acor-poration of .Rhode Island Application January 14, 1949, Serial'Nob70i930' 43 Claims, (01. 271-64)" The present invention relates to feeding-andstacking methods and machines, and moreparticularl-y to methods-of and machines I for feed ing and stacking sheetinaterial, like paper or board.

A machine of the above-described character in" common use comprises a plurality of tapes for feeding the sheets into a lay-boy, where they become stacked upon a main support; The main support is automatically lowered by-degrees to maintain the top of the stack-of sheets atsub-" stantially constant height, thereby permittingthe feeding means to continue feeding the sheets into the lay-boy on top of" the stack "withouthindrance from the sheets already-there; -When" the main support becomesloweredto the floor,

however; it becomes necessaryto remove it, and

to substitute therefor a new main support on whicht'ostack further sheets: It is essential; at

such times, either to shut downthe machine; so

as to prevent the feeding of further sheets into the lay boy or else, as where high-speed produc' tion is required, to provide somemechanism that renders it unnecessaryto interrupt the'contin uous feeding of the sheets.

According to the invention disclosed in my (30- pending application, Serial No. 748,8l3jfi1ed May 7, now Patent-No-*2,'521,075'; September 5; 1950, the problem is solved'with the aid" of "an auxiliary support on which-temporarily to-stack the sheets during the removal-of the completed stack on the main support and thefsubstitution*- therefor of a new main support, after which the weight stock.

As an alternative solution of the problem ofmaintaining continuous operation of the machine during-the removal of the completed stack of sheets, it has been proposed to switch the feed ing of the sheets-from one-lay-boy to another upon the completion of the stack. A proposalof this character, however, does not-lend itself easily to the feeding of overlapped sheets, becausethe switching-mechanism can not operate to deflect continuously fed overlapped sheets from one layboy to another unless there is a break in the-feed of the overlapped sheets'during which theswitch-- ing mechanism may operate.

In order to solvethe switching problem in systems' employing overlapped sheets, therefore, it

has been proposed to "feed the sheets singly to start .zout with; land .I'notlto start the overlapping1 until. the sheets have traveledzzbeyondithe.'posi tion of location of the switch; This-,proposal',:,

howevenz requires:s' highespeed'stiming: and syn-. is chronization, and. changing the. directiorrwof-i,

travel: of the sheets at times when'theyiaretravel-ia ing zsingly .at higmspeed' prior; to. their becomingoverlapped.

An. object .of the :present .invention, therefora is toprovidea newzandsimproved. methodilof andniachinecfor:switchingathe sheets while travel.---

ing; at low-speed after they haveibeen overlappecLz, and during.;the..contlnuous-operation of the :ma-.:

'the continuous operation of the machine.

Still anotherobject isto provide a new sandal improved switching mechanismfor. switch-ing, overlapped sheets in the low-speed section-of the feedingeand-stacklng,machine.

Other. and furtherobjectstwill be-c-vexplainedw...

hereinafter and. will ,be. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Theinvention will now be more fully "described-5: in connection. with the accompanying cdrawings x in which Figs. 1 and 1A together constitute a diagrammatic view, infront elevation, of a papers cutting=andefeeding machine embodying, the :s: present invention, in preferred form, theioininggd line being indicated: as lA-.A;. Fig. 2 i is. aesection'g, upon a larger scale, taken upon the line .2 2 .of-i. Fig.,.5, ,lookingin the direction of the arrows; Fig.3 is a plan, also upon .a largerscale,'of-thei switching mechanism illustrated in Fig." 1A,v .thetconveyor tapes being. omitted; for clearness; :Figz;

4 is a front elevationsalsouupon a scalellargera' than in Figs; 1 and 1A; butsmaller thanxin: Fig. I

of thexmotor+driving systemillustrated in-FlgllA foiiroperatingzthe switching mechanism and; re-

lated parts; Fig 5. is acorresponding plan, within partsin sect.'on '1 and other parts 1 omitted, for 1 clearness; Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryirear elevation, of a. detail, illustrating .pull chains foroperat w ing the motor-driving system to control: the

switching mechanism; Fig. '7 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the i electrical circuitt' connections of the 1 motor-driving" system 1 inv a fragmentary plan setting; Fig. '8 is a front ele'vation corresponding to the planof Fig; 3; and Fig.:9. is a transverse vertical section taken upon the line=9--9 of Fig. .5ylooking-in the-directionof thee arrows, but upon a larger scale, illustrating the details of a slidable block and a pawl-and-ratchet device for controlling the motor-driving system, the relative positions of the parts illustrated in Fig. 9, however, being different from those illustrated in Fig. 5.

The drawings illustrate a paper-sheet-cuttingand-feeding machine of well-known type, such as is commonly employed in paper mills to cut webs from a roll or rolls into sheets, and feeding the sheets by means of more or less horizontal conveyor tapes, into a lay-boy.

A web I is led from, for example, a roll (not shown) of paper or similar material between a feed roll and a cooperating drum 4, by which the paper is advanced past disc cutters 2, which sever the paper into longitudinal strips of the desired width, over a guide board II, to a stationary bed-knife cutter Ii]. The drum 4 is shown geared to a main drive shaft 3, driven from a variable-speed transmission unit I by a chain 6; The term web, paper, sheet or its equivalent, will be employed herein to denote either a single layer or a plurality of superposed layers of the paper, board or other material. cutter 9, operated synchronously with the feeding of the web by the feed roll 5 and the drum 4, as, for example, by means of a chain 8, also connected to the variable-speed transmission unit I,

cooperates with the bed cutter I9 to cut the traveling web I into sheets 88' of the desired length. The invention is equally applicable to machines for feeding previously cut sheets.

Owing to the feeding action of the roll 5 and the drum 4, aided by gravity, the sheets 89 travel, at a downward incline, over a guideboard I2, toward a series of cooperating high-speed conveyor tapes or belts I6 and IS. The tapes or belts l5 and I8 are mounted over rolls driven from a chain I5. A chain I3 drives an intermediate shaft I4 from, and therefore in synchronism with, the drum 4; and the shaft I4, in turn, drives the chain I5 to operate the tapes or belts I6 and I8. The forward end roll of the tapes [8 is shown at 24. sloping or inclinedly disposed tapes I'I, also driven by the chain I5, are positioned between the bed cutter I6 and the tapes or belts l6 and I8, in the path of feeding movement of the sheets 86, in order gradually to straighten out the head or cut end of each sheet, if it should happen to be curled, thereby facilitating proper feeding of the sheets 80. Similar apparatus is described, for example, in Letters Patent 2,261,968, issued November 11, 1941, to Louis L. Matthews.

The sheets 88 thus fed between the cooperating high-speed conveyor tapes l6 and I8 are advanced to relatively low-speed tapes 22 on which, because of the reduction in speed, the sheets 80 become overlapped. The relatively low-speed tapes 22 are mounted over rolls the forward roll of which is shown at I23. The tapes 22 are operated by a sprocket chain 53 from a shaft 5| that is driven by a pulley 99. The sprocket chain 53 is mounted over a sprocket 52, shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, mounted upon the shaft 5| of the pulley 99. The pulley 99, in turn, is driven by means of an endless V-belt 98 from a pulley 91, disposed upon the shaft of a motor 93. The motor 93, therefore, determines the speed with which the overlapped sheets 86 are advanced by the relatively low-speed conveyor tapes 22, as before explained.

A crimper mechanism 28 may be employed to impart a long lengthwise stiffening wave to the A rotary sheets, as described, for example, in Letters Patent, 2,281,704, issued May 5, 1942, and an air blower is may be employed to blow air under the head of each sheet 80, while it is still traveling at high speed, and just before its change of speed by the relatively low-speed tapes 22, as described, for example, in Letters Patent 2,261,- 971 issued November 11, 1941, both to the said Louis L. Matthews. A slow-down carriage 2| for slowing down the speed of the head of each sheet may also be employed, as described, for example, in Letters Patent 2,261,972, issued November 11, 1941, to the said Louis L. Matthews.

The relatively low-speed tapes 22 are overlapped by, and separated from, the high-speed tapes I8, as shown. The sheets 89 are thus fed at relatively high speed, confined by the tapes I6 and I8, to the relatively low-speed tapes 22, but become unconfined by the tapes l6 and I8 upon becoming advanced to the low-speed tapes 22.

The relatively low-speed tapes 22 feed the overlapped sheets to a horizontally disposed guide plate 23, illustrated more particularly in Fig. 8, that is supported on an angle iron 25 just beyond the forward end roll I23 of the tapes 22. The guide plate 26 is preferably positioned very close to, and just forward of, the end roll I23 of the tapes 22 in the line of feed of the sheets 89, and its horizontally disposed upper surface is disposed just slightly lower than the top of the end roll I23, in order to maintain a smooth flow of overlapped sheets from the tapes 22.

As the sheets 89 travel forward over the horizontally disposed upper surface of the guide plate 26, they are received on a plurality of parallel switch fingers 23, spaced transversely of the machine and of the direction of travel of the sheets 80. The switch fingers 23 are adapted to occupy selectively any of a plurality of different angular positions. Three such positions are illustrated, respectively designated by the numerals 23-I, 23-11 and 23-111. Since the switch lingers 23 can not occupy more than one of these three positions at a time, two of these three positions, in any particular figure, are illustrated by dashed lines. In order to enable adjusting the switch fingers 23 to the different positions 23-1, 23-11 and 23-111, they are shown mounted upon an angle iron 21 that is secured to a rod 28. The rod 28 may be mounted in oppositely disposed end bearings 29, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 3. The rod 28 may be freely rocked in its bearings 29, as by means of a handwheel 30, correspondingly to rock the angle iron 21, and thereby to adjust the switch fingers 23 about the axis of the rod 28 to any of its three angular positions 23-1, 23-I1 and 23-111. The switch fingers 23 may, of course, be counter-balanced to permit of very free angular adjustment.

In order to hold the switch fingers 23 locked securely in any of their three positions 23-1, 23-11 and 23-111 of adjustment, a small pin or rod 33, shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 8, is passed through a spoke in the handwheel 30 and into one of a plurality of holes, shown three in number at 8 I, 82 and 83, provided in a bracket 3| secured to the frame of the machine. The rod 33 may be removed from the hole 8|, 82 or 83 in which it may happen to be disposed-say, the hole 8|, corresponding to the position 23-I--by pulling outward upon a small handle 32, at its outer end, in opposition to the action of a coil spring 34 wound about the rod 33 between the handwheel 30 and a pin 35 extending diametrically ihidu'gh thelrod 1 meets comes thereupon free tobe turnedfto bring'the swit ch fingers m toeach of its. otherpositio"ris 23-11 and;23-II I, whereupon, upon the release or" the handle 32, the rod 33 will become actuated bythecoil spring 34 into thehole 82,'or thehol'e" 83,;as the case may; be.

{lithe-position 23 11, for example, as illustrated by; f ul1 lines in Fig lAand byidashed lines in Fig; 8, the switch fingers}; may direct the sheets 80- sulostantially,horizontally reiterates 1 1 2 series of; approximately horizontally disposed though; shown. inclined slightly upward in Fig.

1A,;cooperating conveyor tapes or belts "36 and" 31,1017 conveyance to a first lay-boy, marked, A;- In this, first layboy A, the sheets 8|].

bBCOIHS fifiEtGkiEdOI piledupcnf a skid support or platform 88. The customary frontsto a d side:

and-aparjogger blades for assuring even stacking or piling, on the support or platform 88. are not illustrated. Constructions for effectingthis result arezzdescribed, for example, in the said Letters 7 Patent; 2,261,972, and Letters Patent 2,367,416, issuedlJanuary 16, 19 45,, to the said- Louis L, Matthews. As the sheetscontinue to he fed into the lay-b'oy A, and become stacked .or piled on the skidsupport or 'platformt s, theskid support or platform ,88 becomes automatically, lowered ,by

degrees; in orderto maintain the level of the stack or pile. ofsheets .86 approximately uniform. This may "he-efiectedqin anydesiredmanner, as described, .for. exampe, in Letters Patent. 1,545,912,

issued July: 14, 1925,,to Charles, B. Maxson. In

time, the skid support orplatform 83 will become lowered to the floor, as illustratedin Fig. 1A.

According to a feature'of the present invention the'switch fingers 23 are. then angularlyadjusted: by means'of the handwheel 35,.so as tov occupy: In this position 23-1, the switch=fingers23 will directthe sheetsflil forward the position 2 34.

ata-n upward incline, to a series of-conveyor tapes or belts 38 and 39, and then between an approximately-horizontal position of I the tapes 38 and I a se ies of approximate1y horizontally; p e cofiveyor tapes yance to-asecond The conveyor apes and" lay bo'y, marked B.

belts-*ss-andtil may-assume different forms,- as

illustrat'ed, for'examp e, in-Figs. 1A-'and-'8. -In this second lay-boy B, the sheets 8!] become stacked or piled similarly to'their stackingor pilingin'the firstlay-boy AP-but upona skidsupporter-platform 3% that has previously-been adjusted 50% to occupy a level just belowthat ofthe delivery of the sheets by theconveyo'r tapesfltcand lEi'into the lay-boy B, as illus trated inFigplA. Theautomatic-jogging-sw terhs -employed-in connection with the lay-boy -mayhe employed also in connection withthe 4 ys B; and air" supplies 4I,shown schematically'in Fig. 1A, and'crimpers, of'the nature already "describeclfmay be employed "also in con nection' with both the-lay-looys A and Bff It is tohe understood, however, that side-unloading lay-boys ori'any other'types of sheet-receiving receptaclesmay be employedto stackthe over-f lapped'sheets fed from the conveyor tapes 38, 139

Mtor'36, 31'. The conveyor tapes 3B, '31, 38', '39 and 4t"'are shown operated from a sprocket chain Ijshown'more particularly in Figs. 1A and 4. The' chain 55* is shown engaging a sprocket'54 driven by the shaft seer a puueyts'. "The'pulley miiiithespeed withwhichthe overlapped sheet 5 that have been fed"heyo'ndtthe switch'fingersf" During this feedingfof 'the'sheets '8fl"into the secondlay-boy B3 thesta'ck or pile 'of 'sheets that has been completed inthe'lay-b'oy A is'removed, and a new skid support or platform' 88 theSheetS'Sfi, Without shutting down the machine in order to "enable'remcving' the completed stackt or pilelof sheets on the slrid'support 88 in thelayboy' A, or that on th skid sup ih lay-'hoy" B.

To, adjust the switch fingers 23 hack and'forth between the positions '23-Iand 23-11, however; is not an easy task," because of the continuously" overlapping nature of the feed ofthe sheets 80"to these switch fingers 23. So long'as the feedoff' the sheets 80 by the low -speed tapes'22to the" switch fingers 23 remains "continuousand 'over lapping, it is not possible, "during the feeding'of the sheets, to move the handwheel 3!];in order to alter" theorientation of' the switch fingers" 23- from one direction to'another', hetweenthe po-' sitions 23-I and 23-'II, for example, without causing a jamming of the feed; The problem-- could; of course, he solvedloyshutting-down the" machine during the adjustmentoftheswitchfin gers 23.

In' accordance with a featureof the present' invention, however, it is not necessary toshut down'the machine; Provision is'made, instead;

for rendering a predetermined'regionof'thema chinein' the vicinity of the switch fingers-13 With the clear of" the overlapped sheets 89. switchfingers 23 clear of-the overlappedsheets -80; thereis no difiicultydnvolved in changing thihoriehtation. So longas thereareno overlapping-of the sheets 80 upon the' switch fingers" 23'," the operator may: first, remove-the rod 33 from' the'hole 8|, 82 or 83-=that it may happen 1 -to:occupy;'then, turn the handwhe'el 30 toadjustthe switch fingers 23 to any desired angular position; and, finally, reinsert the rod 33 into the hole" 8|, 82 or 83' corresponding to the newly ad justedpositiOn. The feed of the overlapped sheets-80in the vicinity-of the switch fingers 23 maythereupon he resumed, andthe machine wil'la v fro'mthen on continue to feed the-overlapped;- sheets from the relatively low-speed tapes 22s alonglthe readjusted direction to the lay-boy A orsth'e'lay-boy B,. as the case may be.

It :has1been explained that, in the position 23-'I r of.the: switch fingers 23, as illustrated by full lines;

in-,Eig.-'8, theoverlapped sheets Bllwill bead? vancedby the tapes 38, 39 and in for conveyance.

into the lay-boy B; and that, in the position- 23-11 of the switch fingers 23, the tapes 36and" 31,;wi1lsimilarly advancethe overlapped sheets 1 80.,into the lay-boy A. In the third position 23T-III,}the switch fingers 23, under the control of the "operator, will deflect the overlapped'sheets 80 into a chute, between guide members stand Mf'thr'ough a hole42in'the'floo1", into a reject? receptacle, not shown. It may be desirable. to discardfsheets "80*in this 'mannerfat times when',"-

for example, without shutting'dow themachine,

a change is made in the length of the strips cut by the cutters 9 and H! by suitable adjustment of the variable-speed transmission unit I. The sheets of improper length thus produced at such times may then be prevented from reaching the lay-boy A or the lay-boy B.

The preferred mechanism for clearing the switch fingers 23 of the overlapping sheets 89 will now be described. It has been explained that the motor 93 controls the speed of the relatively low-speed tapes 22 and, therefore, the speed with which the overlapped sheets 89 are advanced by the relatively low-speed tapes 22 to the switch fingers 23. It has been explained also that the motor 92 controls the speed of the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and so and, therefore, the speed with which the overlapped sheets are carried by these tapes away from the switch fingers 23. Ordinarily, under normal operating conditions, the motors 92 and 93 operate at the same speed, in order to drive the conveyor tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and 49 at the same speed as the conveyor tapes 22 and, therefore, to carry the overlapped sheets 89 away from the switch fingers 23 as rapidly as they are advanced to the switch fingers 23 by the relatively low-speed tapes 22. Under normal operating conditions, therefore, the overlapped sheets are advanced at the same speed along the relatively low-speed tapes 22, over the switch fingers 23, and along the tapes 36 and 31 into the lay-boy A, or by the tapes 38, 39 and 49 into the lay-boy B.

Let it be assumed, as before, that the switch fingers 23 initially occupy their horizontally disposed position 23-II, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1A, in order that the relatively low-speed tapes 22 may advance the overlapped sheets 89 over the switch finger 23 to the tapes 36 and 31, for stacking in the lay-boy A. Upon the skid support or platform 88 in the lay-boy A, reaching the floor with a completed full stack of sheets 89, it becomes desirable to switch the feed of the overlapped sheets 39 from the conveyor tapes 36 and 31 to the conveyor tapes 38, 39 and 49. This, as already explained, may be effected by manipulating the switch fingers 23 from the horizontally disposed position 23-II to the upwardly inclined position 23-I, illustrated by full lines in Fig. 8. It has also been explained that, in order to effect this result without shutting down the machine, it is desirable to clear the region of the switch fingers 23 of the overlapped sheets 89.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated and described herein, the speed of the sprocket chain 53 is reduced, in order that the low-speed conveyor tapes 22 may bcome slowed down to even a lower speed; and the speed of the sprocket chain '55 is at the same time increased, in order simultaneously to speed up the conveyor tapes 36 and 31. The region in the vicinity of the switch fingers 23 becomes thus temporarily cleared quickly of all sheets 89. This is because the speed with which further overlapped sheets 89 are advanced to the switch fingers 23 by the relatively low-speed tapes 22 becomes temporarily reduced, and, at the same time, the speed with which the tapes 36 and 31 pass into the lay-boy A the overlapped sheets 89 already previously advanced to the switch fingers 23 becomes temporarily increased, in order to snatch them away from the switch fingers 23. The temporary further slowing down of the speed of the low-speed tapes 23,0f course, results in temporarily increasing the degree of overlapping of the sheets 89 on the relatively low-speed tapes 22, but this is not a drawback.

The operator may thereupon: first, pull outward on the handle 32, thereby to disengage the pin 33 from the hole 82; than, turn the handwheel 36, as before explained, in order to adjust the switch fingers 23 to the position 23-1; and, finally, release the handle 32 to insert the pin 35 in the hole 8|, thereby locking the switch fingers 23 in the readjusted position 23-I. This operation may be performed rather leisurely if the region of the switch fingers 23 is cleared of the sheets 89 rapidly by the tapes 36 and 31, and if the conveyor belts 22 are slowed down to a sufficiently low speed to advance the next following overlapped sheets 89 toward the switch fingers 23 very slowly. After the switch fingers 23 become locked in the position 23-I, the speed of the sprocket chain 53, and hence the speed of the coneveyor tapes 22, is again increased to their former predetermined speed. The speed of the chain 55 is at the same time reduced to its former predetermined speed, thus effecting the decrease of the speed of the conveyor tapes 38, 3'9 and 49. The preferred mechanism for attaining this result will now be described.

To slow down the speed of the relatively lowspeed tapes 22, the shaft 5|, upon which is mounted the sprocket 52 for driving the sprocket chain 53 from which the relatively low-speed tapes 22 are driven, as before described, may be disconnected from the drive of the motor 93, and connected, instead, to the drive of a motor 94. To increase the speed of the tapes 36 and 3 1, the shaft 59, upon which is mounted the sprocket 54 for driving the sprocket chain 55 from which the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and 49 are driven, may be disconnected from the drive of the motor 92, and connected, instead, to the drive of a motor 9| of higher speed. The mechanism for disconnecting the shafts 5| and 59 from the drives of the respective motors 93 and 92 will be described presently.

As for the mechanism for connecting the shaft 5| to the drive of the motor 94, the shaft 5| is shown provided with a second sprocket 6| driven from a sprocket chain 69 that passes over a sprocket 59 mounted upon a shaft 58. Through the medium of a worm-gear reduction unit 56, 51, the motor 94 will drive the shaft 53, and hence the shaft 5|, at reduced speed compared with the before-mentioned predetermined relatively lowspeed drive of the motor 93, to drive the relatively low-speed tapes 22 at a very slow speed.

The shaft 59 is similarly shown provided with a sprocket 64 driven from a second sprocket chain 63, shown more particularly in Fig. 4, that passes over a sprocket 62 mounted upon the shaft of the motor 9|. The motor 9| drives the shaft 59 at a high speed compared with the beforementioned predetermined relatively low-speed drive of the motor 92, to drive the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and 49 at a correspondingly greater speed.

As an illustration of a practical operating system, the motors 93 and 92 may normally drive the respective shafts 5| and 59, and hence the relatively low-speed tapes 22 and the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39, 49, respectively, at a predetermined normal speed such as to advance feet of sheets per minute. Assuming that the feed roll 5 and the drum 4 feed the web at a rate corresponding to 250 feet of sheets per minute, a fiftypercent overlap of the sheets 89 will be produced. Upon the shaft 5| becoming disconnected from the motor 93, however. it may be driven from Upon the shaft 50' becoming discon- -the motors 9I and Marc connected toytheir respective shafts 50 and El at substantially the 1- ,.same .time, therefore, the overlapped sheets 80 will be snatched away from the switch fingers .2 3, bythetapes 36 and:3'I about-twenty-five times aas fasty as the relatively low-speed tapes 22 will wfeed additional r overlapped; sheets 80 toward the mswitch fingers 23. 'This' will result in a -very f, irapid clearing ofthe switch fingers 23 of sheets "780.

A'similar operation --will takeplace of course, when, assuming, that'theswitch fingers 23 occupy ==theirposition 23-I, as illustrated by full lines in ;Fig. 8, itis desired to adjustthemto thedashed- -=line position*2'3,--II of Fig. .8, or-thefull-line positi'onof Figs-1A, foridefiecting the sheets 80 from :-:In' some ,instances,;instead' of simultaneously -reducing-1the. speed offeed of the overlapped sheets 80 prior to their reaching thenpredeter- --.-;mined region'of .theswitch fingers ,23,and in;-v dcreasing thefspeedforward of the region of'the -switch finger-$123, it may be desirable to perform the one operation; only ofareducin'gthe speed of feed of theisheets 80-by the relatively low-speed 'tapes prior, to their reachin'g the-switch fingers -23,andwithout-increasing the speed of the tapes :36 and 31. :This'one'operation, of course, will astill efiectthe feeding of thesheets 60 by' the relatively low-speed tapes 22' to.the switch fingers .23 atthe very low speed of about lofeet'of sheets .per minute. This maybe a lowenoughspeed to .effect rsufiicient; clearance .of the :overlapped rsheets66 for a sufficient period 'oftime toper- :mit adjustment of the switch fingers 23 from one of the; positions23-I, 23-11 or 23-111 to anotherv It may similarly the desirable, without reducing .thespeed of the relatively low-speed tapes :22, '..merely toincrease thespeed of operation of the stapes 36 and .31. This willalso-clear to some ,extentthe.-region1of,.the switchefingers 23 of sheetstfl. ,In suchtcases, however, the operator will be more hurriedin his manipulation of the -handwheel-30 toyadjust the switch fingers 23 from one of-.-.the'positions-2-3 I, 23-11 and 23-111 :to another than when ;.both .the relatively low- :speed-tapes 22are'slowed' down"and.the tapes 36 .-;and. 3'! are increased, vas before described.

It remains -now ,todescribe {the preferred nmechanism, for disconnecting; the drive .of; the :-..;motors 92 and 93," respectively," from ;'the 1 shafts 50. and. Hand; at the same time; toxconnect. these :shafts, toathe .drives' of the :respectivemotors 9| -The motors -9I, --92,'-93 ;and 94care shown in Figs. .-1A, Land -& bolted to ipairsaoftransversely disposed-crossibars I 41 thatare secured toa common=.-base comprisingitwo longitudinally disposed -.,-front andi rear frame .membersa45 and 46. .The Etishafts: 50; and :51 eareeshown mounted on brackets 65.

The pulley 49, which, as previously explained,

. drives the shaft 50 from the-motor 92, is not,

however, integral :with this shaft -50. .On the contrary, it is loose uponthe shaft 50. As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, the pulley 49 rotates the shaft 5IJ- through the medium of a pawl- 66. ,The'pawl 66 is shownpivoted to an. integral arm 190i the pulley-49 upon a stud I 06, shown asa headed bolt. Itsfreeend is provided with a-tapered edge 84. The tapered edge-84 is yieldingly forced by a spring- 85"into --engagement with a multi-toothed ratchet 61'that is fixedto theshaft 5I].- It is onlywhen the spring -85 holdsthe tapered edge 84 of the pawl 66 .in engagement with the ratchet 61 that the pulley 49 maydrive-the shaft -50. When the pawl 66 becomesdisengaged from the ratchet-61,

- engagement with the ratchet I 61.

:pawl 166 is in-engagement with-the ratchet 'IG'I,

:ratchet 61.- "speed of the shaft when drivenrbythe?motors .in opposition to-the actionof the spring 85, the

pulley-49 is driven loosely bythe motor92, with- .out any longer driving the shaft56r The pawland-ratchetsystems I-66--I6'I, 266261wand 366-'-36'| hereinafter described, are all' identical with the system66-6'I above described.- The reference numerals are the-samein these various systems except that, for distinguishingpurposes, they are increased-1031 100, 1200 and 300,-.re-

I spectively.

The sprocket 64, 'driven'by the sprocket chain 63 from the-motor9I,'is"als0 looseupon the shaft 56. The sprocket 64 is-integrally provided with 'an 'arm 119, similar! to the integral arm 19 of the .pulley- 49, upon which is:similarlypivotediat 200 a pawl I66, similar to-the pawl 66 of thepulley 49, provided with a tapered edge I84forengag- -ing a multi-toothed ratchet'I6'I, similartto the ratchet 61,andthat,.-.like the ratchet 67,'-is:fixed with the shaft '56. The motor 9 I will drive the shaft '59 at times only'when-the pawl I66 is in Whencthe however, the motor 9| will drive theshaft- 50 at a speed greater than thedrive of the shaft 50 by the "motor 92 when the pawl '66-" engages the The "reasons for "thisdifference in 9| and 92 has already been explained. These different "speeds may be attained in 'any wellknown way.

- Thepul-ley'99 for-driving the shaftfiI from the motor-93 is similarlyprovided'integrally with a similararm-2'l9 uponwvhich is pivoted at 360 a similar pawl-266 having a tapered edge 2,84

for engaging a-similar ratchet-261 that is fixed to the shaft -5I.-' The' motor 63 will therefore drive-theshaft 51- at times only when" the corresponding pawl 2'66 engages the corresponding ratchet 26'5. The-sprocket-6I,"drlven from the -motor 94, 'finally isl-ikewise integrally provided with an =arm-319 having a similar pawl 366, more particularlyshown in'Fig. 9, having a tapered edge 362, for engagingasimilarratchet :drive the: shaft 5i :at?times only when thispawl 366 engagesthe ratchet 361. The drive of the shaft-51 by the r.respective smotors 93 'and 94 "through the-respective ratchet-andepawl systems 266-261 and 366-361, however," as before explained, isat different speeds.

purpose that the worm-gear reduction unit 56, '51 'isemployed.

It is "for this In order simultaneously to disconnect the .:motors :92-1an'd' '93 :from' themespective shafts 50 riand :5I,-:and-ain;:order simultaneously to con- :nect-the respectivezmotors .9I 'and 94 to there- 'u'ispectivezshafts 56 and 5I',: two':blocks"68 and I68 are slidably mounted concentrically about the respective shafts 59 and as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 5 and 9. The blocks 68 and I68 are disposed intermediately of their respective shafts 50 and 5| between the ratchets 61 and I61 and the ratchets 281 and 361, respectively. The slidable blocks 68 and I68 are tapered at their ends I6! and I62 in order to enable them to slip under the tapered edges 84, I84, 284 and 384 of the respective pawls 66, I66. 266 and 366, respectively, thereby to lift the pawls out of engagement with their respective ratchets 61, I61, 261 and 361. The blocks 68 and I 8 may occupy two extreme positions of sli able adjustment on their respective shafts 59 and 5|. In one extreme position of its slidable adjustment, illustrated in Fig. 5, the tapered end I92 of the block 68 engages under the tapered ed e I84 of the pawl I66 in order to lift that pawl I66 out of engagement with the ratchet I61, thereby to render the motor 9! ineffective to drive the shaft 59. As the other tapered end I8! does not, in this position, engage under the tapered end 84 of the pawl 66, however, the spring 65 causes the pawl 66 to engage the ratchet 61 in order to render the motor 92 effective to drive the shaft 59. This ineffectiveness and effectiveness of the respective motors 9| and 92 is reversed, of course, in the other position of adjustment, not illustrated in Fig. 5. of the block 68. The motors 93 and 94 are similarly rendered relatively effective and ineffective in the two extreme positions of slidable adjustment of the block I68.

When the block 68 is slidahly adjusted along the shaft 54, to its other extreme position of slidable ad ustment, not illustrated in Fig. 5, on the other hand. it assumes the relative position illustrated by block I 68 in Fig. 5. Its tapered edge IIlI becomes then dis osed under the tapered edge 84 of the pawl 66 to lift the pawl 66 out of engagement with the ratchet 61. In these relative positions of the parts, the motor 92 no longer drives the shaft 56. In this same position of the slidable block 68, however, the ta ered end I62 of the block 68 releases the pawl I66, enabling it to engage the ratchet I61. The motor 9| will therefore drive the shaft 50.

In the relative positions illustrated by Fig. 5, similarly, the sliding block I88 occupies an ex treme position of slidable movement on the shaft 5| such that the pawl 266 engages the ratchet 261 in order to render the motor 93 effective to drive the shaft 5| through the pawl 268 and the ratchet 261. The lower tapered end I82 of the block I68, however, engages under the tapered edge 384 of the pawl 366 to cause the pawl 366 to become disengaged from the ratchet 361, thereby to render the motor 94 ineffective to drive the shaft 5!. In the other extreme position of slidable adjustment of the block I66, illustrated in Fig. 9, on the other hand, the tapered end IIlI of the block I68 disengages the tapered edge 384 of the pawl 366, and its tapered end IIII engages the tapered edge 284 of the pawl 266. The spring 385 therefore causes the pawl 366 to engage the ratchet 361 in order to render the motor 94 effective to drive the shaft 5|, and the pawl 266 is at the same time disengaged from the ratchet 261 in order to render the motor 93 ineffective to drive this shaft 5|.

To slide the blocks 68 and I68 from one extreme position of slidable adjustment to the other, they are pivotally connected at 12 on opposite sides of the pivot 16 of a swinging arm 69 that is intermediately pivoted upon a crossbar 86, secured to the longitudinally disposed frame members 45 and 46. Cords or pull chains II and HI fastened to the respective ends of the arm 69, may be actuated to move that arm 69 about its intermediately disposed pivot 16 to adjust the slidable blocks 68 and I58 slidably in opposite directions simultaneously along their respective shafts 50 and 5|. In one extreme position of pivotal adjustment of the arm 69, therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the pawls 56 and 266 will simultaneously engage the respective ratchets 61 and 261 to enable the motors 92 and 93 to become effective to drive the respective shafts 50 and 5| simultaneously. The motor 93 will at this time, therefore, drive the tapes 22 and the motor 92 the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and 49 simultaneousl at the same predetermined normal speed. The motors SI and 94 will at this time be ineffective. In the other extreme position, not illustrated, of pivotal adjustment of the arm 69, the pawls I66 and 366 will engage the respective ratchets I61 and 361 to enable the motors 9| and 94 to become efiective to drive the respective shafts 58 and 5i simultaneously. The motor 94 will therefore drive the relatively low-speed tapes 22 at reduced speed and the motor 9| will at the same time speed up the tapes 36, 31, 38, 39 and 49 to clear the region of the switch fingers 23 of the sheets 86, as previously described, in order to permit of adjusting the position of the switch fingers 23. The motors 92 and 93 will at this time be ineffective.

It is preferred, insofar as possible, in order to protect the operator, to position the drive mechanisms on one side only of the machine, which may be termed the driving side, and the control mechanisms on the opposite side, which may be termed the operators side. The pull chains H and HI may, therefore, extend transversely across the machine from the driving side of the machine toward the operators side. The pull chains H and HI are shown in Fig. 5 extending from the respective ends of the arm 69 forward toward the operators side of the machine horizontally. They are then guided under lower pulley wheels 13 and I13, respectively, mounted on the front frame member 45; after which the pull chains 1| and HI extend upward and diagonally rearward, shown more particularly in Figs. 1A, 4 and 6; and over upper pulle wheels 213 and 313, respectively, provided on the under side of an upper rear rail 14, adjacent the forward ends of the conveyor tapes I8 and 22. The cords H and HI or pull chains are then carried forward over the respective pulleys 213 and 313 towards a front upper rail I14, and their free ends are fastened to a second swinging arm or bar 15, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 7, and 8, that is intermediately pivoted at 18 on a 'bracket 11 that may be secured inside the front upper rail I14 of the machine. In order to swing the bar 15, a handle 18, illustrated in Figs. 1A, 3, '1 and 8, may be connected to one of its ends. The handle 18 is shown extending through the upper front rail 14 to render it accessible to the Operator, preferably near the handwheel 30, as illustrated in Figs. 1A, 3 and '1. The operator may thus operate the pull chains or cords H and HI from his position at the handwheel 39, merely by pushing or pulling upon the handle 18. The swinging bars 69 and 15 are shown substantially parallel, and they will remain substantially parallel' iniall positions ofe adjustment ofthezhandle 18.

'Electric limit switches il03 andklflll aretillustrated in Fig. '7 as disposediatmppositesides of 'one end of the/arm 15, and'similar switches I and H16 are shown disposedf'at corresponding opposite sides of the other end: of arm 'IB. In

one extreme position of pivotalradjustmentof the arm 75, the limit switches I641 and" H35 'will be closed, 'as illustrated. The pawl 66 will, at

the same time,'engage the ratchet $1, and'the pawl-286 the ratchet 261, to connect the motors 92 and 93 into: circuit, in order'to drive therespective shafts 5&3 and'iSIJ The-circuit connectionsto the motors SZ'an'd 93 from therespective closed switches I04 :and lll5' arezdiagrammatically illustrated in Fig; -'7 at 81 and 95. The

The other switches I'03'and" I06 are In the other extreme position of pivotal Iadjustment of the arm'15; similarly, these switches 2193 and its will be closed to-permit operation 10f thes motors. 9| and at the timeithat they are connected to the respective shaftsiid'and 5L 'Conn'ections'of the respective switches max'and 21GB .to the respective "'motors'9l and 9d are respectively indicated diagrammatically ates and Theswitcheslll l and we are open, at this time,'in order torprevent the motors -92 and 93 T, from drawing power unnecessarily.

The-limit switches 803, N34, 'HIS'and lflfi'fmay heso mounted that: there shall be a momentary neutral point, in which none ofv these-switches are closed. Notwithstanding this momentary "neutral point, however, the conveyor tapes will convA description ofimanyportions of themachine an understanding of which is :notessential to an "understanding of the .presentrinventionzhas purposelya'been"omitted and many: parts of thermaachine have purposely: notbeen illustrated in order not to detract attention from .the features of essential novelty; Fuller explanations or such por- 'tions of themachine will'ib'e found inzthe'Letters Patentabove referred to."

that the features of noveltymay be embodied in:

It willabe understood other machines andin machines of other :types and that modifications 'may :be' made. by' persons skilled in the artwithout departing, from the @spirit and scopeof. theiinventiontasdefinedin the i appended claims.

- What is claimedis:

1. A method of fe'eding' sheetszthats'comprises feeding the sheets to a predetermined; region at a predetermined speedyfeeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, "reducing the speed of 'feed of a plurality ofthe sheets below the prede- =-termined speed prior to theirre'aching the'predetermined region in order'to clearfthe predetermined region" of sheets, thereupon transferring 1'4 ii zthefeed of the sheets fromtheEpredetermined iregion along :a different predetermined direction, and thereafter increasing the reducedspeed of the sheets prior to theirreaching the predeter- 6 mined region.

'2.. A method of feeding sheets that comprises rfeeding the sheets to a predetermined regionat a ifirst predetermined speed, feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined regionat a lflfsecond predetermined. speed along a'predetermined. direction, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets belowthe first predetermined speed prior to theirreaching the predetermined-region, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets'above the second prede- .termined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to .ic'lear the predeterminedregion" of :sheets; and thereupon transferring the feed of the sheetsfrom' the. predetermined region along a -Tdifferent= predetermined direction.

3. A method of feeding'sheets that comprises feeding the sheets to a predetermined region: at 1a? first: predetermined speed, feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region at a llicsecond predetermined speed along a predetermihed direction, reducing thespeed'of feed of a plurality of the sheets below the first'predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region, increasing the speed of feed of a 3 plurality of the sheets above the second predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets,

' thereupon transferring the I feed of the sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and-thereafter increasing the reduced speed of feed of the sheets prior i to their reaching the predetermined region and reducing the increased speed offeed of the sheets beyond the predetermined region.

4, A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets to a predetermined region at a first predetermined speed, feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region at a second predetermined speed along a predetermined direction, reducing by a predetermined factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets below the first predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region, increasing by a greater factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets above the second predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, and .thereupon transferring the feed of the sheets ,lfrom the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

5. A. method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding thesheets to a predetermined region and thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predeter- 6O mined speed, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets below the predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in Lorderf to clear the predetermined region of -sheets, and thereupon transferring thefeed of thesheets from thepredetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

6. A method of feeding sheets thatcomprises -:feeding the sheets to a, predetermined region and thereafter beyond the predetermined .-reg ion ,;-.along :a, predetermined direction. at a predeterminedr=speed,:reducing the speed offfeed-of a plurality .of the-wsheets below the predetermined 15 speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the sheets from the predetermined region along a. different predetermined direction, and thereafter increasing the reduced speed of feed of the sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and reducing the increased speed of feed of the sheets beyond the predetermined region.

'7. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, clearing the predetermined region of the lapped sheets during the feeding of the sheets, and thereupon trans ferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

8. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets below the predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

9. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets below the predetermined speedprior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and thereafter increasing the reduced speed of feed of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region.

10. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, increasing the degree of lapping of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

11. A method of'feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a pre determined region, feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, increasing the degree of lapping of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and thereafter reducing the 16 degree of lapping of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region.

12. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a prede termined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction ata predetermined speed, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

13. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feedin the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and thereafter reducing the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region.

14. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, reducing the speed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, and thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

15. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feed ing the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along apredetermined direction at a predetermined speed, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, thereafter increasing the reduced speed of the feed of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, and substantially simultaneously reducing the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region.

16. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the'shects in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region at a predetermined speed along a predetermined direction, reducing by a predetermined factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing by a greater factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, and there- 1 17 upon transferring the'feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

17. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region at a predetermined speed alon a predetermined direction, reducing by a predetermined factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing by a greater factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the prdetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and thereafter increasing the reduced speed of feed of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and substantially simultaneously reducing the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region.

18. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, increasing the degree of lappin of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of the lapped sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, and thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

19. A method of feeding sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, increasing the degree of lapping of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of the lapped sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the prede termined region of sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and thereafter reducing the degree of lapping of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and substantially simultaneously reducing the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region.

20. A method of feeding and stacking sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, stacking the sheets fed along the predetermined direction, increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predeter mined region of the lapped sheets when the stack has attained a predetermined height, thereupon transferring thefeed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, stacking the lapped sheets fed along the different predetermined direction, and decreasing the increased speed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region upon the commencement of the stacking of the lapped sheets fed along the different predetermined direction.

21. A method of feeding and stacking sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, stacking the sheets fed along the predetermined direction, reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region, substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets when the stack has attain-ed a predetermined height, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, stacking the sheets fed alon the different predetermined direction, and increasing the reduced speed of feed of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and substantially simultaneously decreasing the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region upon the commencement of the stacking of the sheets fed along the different predetermined direction.

22. A method of feeding and stacking sheets that comprises feeding the sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, stacking the sheets fed along the predetermined direction, clearing the predetermined region of sheets during the feeding of the sheets, thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and stacking the sheets fed along the different predetermined direction.

23. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, means for feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for clearing the predeter: mined region of the lapped sheets during the feeding of the lapped sheets, and means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

24. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, means for feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, means for increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

25. A sheet-feeding machine having, in com-.

bination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, means for feeding the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed, means for in creasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets above the predetermined speed beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets,

19 means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along-a different predetermined direction, and means for thereafter reducing the increased speed of feed beyond the predetermined region.

26. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond'the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets below the predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

2'71 A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region at a predetermined speed, means for ieeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets below the predetermined speed prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheetsfrom the predetermined region along a diiferent predetermined direction, and means for thereafter increasing the reduced speed of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region.

28. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for. feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region and thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and for substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order bination, means for feeding sheets in a predetermined lapped relation to a predetermined region, means for feeding the sheets in lapped relation thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for increasing the degree of lapping of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order'to clear the predetermined region of sheets, means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and means for thereafter reducing the degree of lapping of the sheets to feed the sheets again in the predetermined lapped relation.

30. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region. and thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for reducing by a predetermined factor the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the lation to a predetermined region, and thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a prede-v termined direction, afirst stacking means for stacking the lapped sheets fed along the predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed offeed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and for substantially simultaneously increasing the s eed feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets when the stack of sheets has attained a predetermined height, means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, a second stacking means for stacking the lap ed sheets fed along the dif: ferent predetermined direction, and means for thereafter substantially simultaneously increasing the reduced speed and reducing the increased l speed of feed of the lapped sheets.

32. A sheet-feeding machine having, in com: bination, means for feeding sheets in lapped re lation to a predetermined region and thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a prede termined direction, means for stacking the lapped sheets fed along the predetermined direction, areject chute, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region and for substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the predetermined region in order to clear the pres determined region of the lapped sheets when it is desired to reject sheets, and means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region to the reject chute.

33. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to and upon the switch, a plurality of means for respectively feeding thelapped sheets beyond the switch along any of a plurality of directions, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets to' the switch prior to their reaching the switch and substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the switch in order to clear the switch of the lapped sheets, means for thereupon actuating the switch to direct the lapped sheets from any of the plurality of feeding means toward any other of the plurality of feeding means while the switch is cleared of the lapped sheets, and means for thereafter substantially simultaneously increasing the said reduced speed of the lapped sheets to the switch and reducing the said increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond ity of means for respectively feeding the lapped sheets beyond the switch along any of a plurality of directions, a plurality of stacking means, one corresponding to each of the plurality of feeding means, for stacking the lapped sheets fed along the corresponding feeding means, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets to the switch prior to their reaching the switch and substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the switch in order to clear the switch of the lapped sheets, means for thereupon actuating the switch to direct the lapped sheets from any of the plurality of feeding means and the corresponding stacking means toward any other of the plurality of feeding means and the corresponding stacking means while the switch is cleared of the lapped sheets, and means for thereafter substantially simultaneously increasing the said reduced speed of the lapped sheets to the switch and reducing the said increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the switch.

35. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch, means for feeding sheets in lapped relation to and upon the switch, means for respectively feeding the lapped sheets beyond the switch along any of a plurality of directions, stacking means for receiving and stacking the lapped sheets fed along one of the plurality of directions, a reject chute disposed along another of the plurality of directions for receiving the lapped sheets fed therealong, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets to the switch prior to their reaching the switch and substantially simultaneously increas ing the speed of feed of a plurality of the lapped sheets beyond the switch in order to clear the switch of the lapped sheets, means for thereupon actuating the switch to direct the lapped sheets from one of the plurality of directions toward any other of the plurality of directions while the switch is cleared of the lapped sheets, and means for thereafter substantially simultaneously increasing the said reduced speed of the lapped sheets to the switch and reducing the said increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets beyond the switch.

36. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a first conveyor, a first motor normally connected to the first conveyor to actuate the first conveyor in order to feed sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region, a second conveyor, a second motor normally connected to the second conveyor to actuate the second conveyor in order to feed the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, a third motor for actuating the first conveyor at reduced speed, a fourth motor for actuating the second conveyor at increased speed, means for simultaneously disconnecting the first and second motors from the respective first and second conveyors and for connecting the third and fourth motors to the respective first and second conveyors in order to reduce the speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the first conveyor to the predetermined region and to increase the speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the second conveyor beyond the predetermined region, thereby to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction, and means for thereafter simultaneously disconnecting the third and fourth motors from the respective first and second conveyors and for reconnecting the first and second motors to the respective first and second conveyors in order to increase the reduced,speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the first conveyors to the predetermined region and to reduce the increased speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the second conveyor beyond the predetermined region.

37. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a first conveyor, a first motor for actuating the first conveyor, a first electric circuit for operating the first motor, a first switch for opening and closing the first electric circuit, a second conveyor, a second motor for actuating the second conveyor, a second electric circuit for operating the second motor, a second switch for opening and closing the second electric circuit, a third motor for actuating the first conveyor at reduced speed, a third electric circuit for operating the third-motor, a third switch for opening and closing the third electric circuit, a fourth motor for actuatingthe second conveyor at increased speed, a fourth electric circuit for operating the fourth motor, a fourth switch for opening and closing the fourth electric circuit, means for simultaneously actuating the third and fourth switches to open the circuits of the third and fourth motors and the first and second switches to close the circuits of the first and second motors to connect the first motor to the first conveyor and the second motor. to the second conveyor to actuate the first conveyor in order to feed sheets in lapped relation to a predetermined region and to actuate the second conveyor in order to feed the lapped sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction and for simultaneously actuating the first and second switches to open the circuits of the first and second motors and the third and fourth switches to close the circuits of the third and fourth motors to disconnect the first and second motors from the respective first and second conveyors and to connect the third and fourth motors to the respective first and second conveyors in order to reduce the speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the first conveyor to the predetermined region and to increase the speed of feed of the lapped sheets by the second conveyor beyond the predetermined region, thereby to clear the predetermined region of the lapped sheets, and means for thereupon transferring the feed of the lapped sheets from the predetermined region along a different predetermined direction.

38. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch that may be oriented along any of a plurality of predetermined directions in order that it may direct sheets that may be fed to and upon the switch along the corresponding direction, means for feeding sheets to and upon the switch at a time when it is oriented along one of the said predetermined directions, means for feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the switch along the predetermined direction, means for increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets beyond the switch in order to clear the switch of sheets, and means for thereupon orienting the switch along any of the other predetermined directions while cleared of sheets.

39. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch that may be oriented along any of a plurality of predetermined directions in order that it may direct sheets that may be fed to and upon the switch along the corresponding direction, means for feeding sheets to and upon he swi ch at, a-tim weefii i orient d lens o e of the said predetermined directions,'means for ieeding the sheets thereafter beyond the switch along the predetermined directionfmean's for re ducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets prior to their. reaching the switch'in order to clear the switch of sheets, and means for thereupon orienting the switch along any of the other predetermined directions while cleared of sheets.

40. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch that may be oriented along any of a plurality of predetermined directions in order that it may direct sheets that may be fed to and upon the switch'along the corresponding direction, means. for feeding sheets to and upon the switch at a time when it isoriented along one or the said predetermined directions, means for feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the switch along the predetermined direction, means -for red ducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets prior to their reaching the switch in order to clear the switch of sheets, means for there-. upon orienting the switch along any of the other predetermined directions while cleared of sheets, and means for thereafter increasing the reduced speed of the sheets prior to their reaching the switch.

41. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, a switch that may be oriented along any of a'plurality of predetermined directions in order that it may direct sheets that may be fed to and upon the switch-along the correspondingdirection, means for feeding sheets to and upon the switch at a time when it is oriented along one of the said predetermined directions and thereafter beyond the switch along the predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets prior to their reaching the switch and tor substantially simultaneously increasing the speed of feed of a plurality of the sheets beyond the switch in order to clear the switch of sheets, means for thereupon orienting the switch along any of the other predetermined directions While cleared of sheets, and means for thereafter substantially simultaneous- &- incr a n h r du s ed a r uc n h increased speed of 'feed'of the sheets.

42. A sheetefeeding machine having, in com: bination, conveying means -for feeding sheets to a predetermined region, means for feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region along a predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed or" the conveying means to reduce the speed of feed of the sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region in order to clear the predetermined region of sheets, means for thereupon transferring the feed of the sheets from the predetermined region along a, different predetermined direction, and means 1 for thereafter increasing the reduced speed of the sheets prior to their reaching the predetermined region.

43. A sheet-feeding machine having, in combination, conveying means for feeding sheets to a predetermined region at a first predetermined speed, means for feeding the sheets thereafter beyond the predetermined region at a second predetermined speed along a predetermined direction, means for reducing the speed of the con- I veying means to reduce the speed of feed or" the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,294,649 Baker Sept. 1, 1942 2,328,859 Taylor Sept. 7, 1943 2,427,223 Moore Sept. 9, 1947 2,477,830 Sandberg l Aug. 2, 1949 

